Follow BI

A Marine was just sentenced for the first time in connection with 'Marines United' nude-photo scandal

A Marine mans the rails of USS Bataan in a parade of ships as part of Fleet Week in New York City, May 25, 2016.

source

Sgt. Rebecca L. Floto/US Marine Corps

A US Marine pleaded guilty on June 29 to nonconsenually sharing
nude photos on the Marines United Facebook group, according to a
Marine Corps press release.

Ad

The unidentified Marine was "sentenced to 10 days
confinement, reduction of rank by three grades, and a forfeiture
of two-thirds of one month's pay," the Corps said. "Additionally,
the process to administratively separate the Marine is
underway."

The Marine was not identified because he faced a summary
court-martial, not a general or special courts-martial, and was
therefore given anonymity by the Privacy Act of 1974,
Military.com reported, citing a
Corps spokesman.

The Marine was the first to be sentenced in connection with
the Marines United Facebook
group photo scandal that broke in March, when it was
discovered that about 30,000 Marines were sharing nude photos of
colleagues along with personal information and even encouraging
sexual assault.

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service has identified 89
"persons of interest" - 22 civilians and 67 active-duty or
reserve Marines - linked to the scandal since February, the Corps
said.

caption

US Marines board a plane at the end of operations for US Marines and British combat troops in Helmand, Afghanistan, October 26, 2014.

source

Thomson Reuters

Five of these persons are still being investigated, while
62 have been given to Marine commands for dispositions, the Corps
said.

"These cases span beyond the Marines United Facebook page
and include a spectrum of behavior," the Corps said.

Since the scandal, the Corps has updated policies, training
and orders to prevent nonconsenual nude-photo sharing, including
the Marine Leader's Handbook, which was created in April, the
Corps said. All allegations of such misconduct are also now
reviewed and investigated by NCIS.

"I think it's important to recognize that our understanding
of the issue has evolved over time," Gen. Glenn Walters Walters
said in the Corps press release. "How
we handle cases today is much different and more effective as a
result of what occurred with Marines United."